About

Blood & Bones is a D30 tabletop/PC role-playing game. The idea is you play just like any other RPG, except that the character sheets will be on your PC/device. I used a spreadsheet program to design the character sheets, though the goal is for it have its own app that can be used on any device. There will also be laminated character sheets for those that don't have a device. I have a unique design in mind for the rulebooks. They will be binders instead of solid books, and as things change in the game, the rulebooks can be easily altered and there won't be any old books to fill up our ever-getting-more-full landfills. I understand from a marketing standpoint, that's not the greatest idea but to be honest, this project isn't about making money. It's really just about finishing something I've started.

I'm not an artist when it comes to drawing, which is why there is none. I'm hoping you will use that strong imagination that keeps you playing tabletop games. I have some artists lined up to illustrate the books and logos for the game, but I'm always looking for more. Be sure to let me know if you're interested and it doesn't matter if you live close by either.

I'm at a point in the process where I need to start play-testing the game. I've made a few previous attempts, but without decent funding it's been difficult to get a solid group together to work on it. Funding for this project will go mostly to getting the resources needed to start play-testing the game, creating the app and website, and to get some rulebooks published to share with all of you. Money will also go towards making sure bills are getting paid while I concentrate my efforts on completing this project. This project is not just a role-playing game. I'm writing novels to help advertise the game, in the sense that people will get to see examples of characters they could play in the game and to also illustrate the settings that will be available.

There will be two settings for the game at launch. The first is the setting from the novel. It is called "Argonis" and is very Tolkien-esque which will be a good familiar setting for those wanting to jump right in and play. The other setting is called "Xyphus". Imagine a world very similar to ours, but became much more advanced, even getting into interstellar travels. Then World War III finally occurs, but with more powerful weapons of mass destruction. The radiation is different and eventually gives rise to magic in the world, plus mutating the inhabitants into elves and dwarves and orcs, etc. One ship out in space is able to time travel to the future when portions of the world have become inhabitable once again and bring back humans to the world. A setting where you might wield a sword with great skill, but the other guy is pointing a laser pistol at you. There are also plans for novels of this setting in the future.

I have been working on this project for many, many years in my off time as I can, and I'm finally at a point in my life where these ideas of mine need to start coming to fruition. My life only seems to be getting busier these days, not leaving a lot of room for creativity. The money will definitely help me to make more time for completing this project.

The finished product will be the three rulebooks, "The Gamer's Guide", "The Character Creation Codex", and "The Creature Compendium". I will also be finishing the first novel of a tetralogy called, "The Orb of Seeing". Finally, there will be a website and free app to download that will be the digital character sheets and other assorted tools to help play the game.

The Orb of Seeing is the first book in the Orbs of Power tetralogy. The heroes that felled the evil half-dragon Etomis are once again called upon to battle an even greater evil. Klarr, the God of Death has figured out a way to bypass his banishment and send his 11 sons to the world. The heroes are tasked with finding the Orbs of Power and the Staff of the Suns; artifacts of immense power, which is the only way to overcome the evil. The story is told by Syldanara, a great silver wyrm that lives in Mt. Tosaris. She has been tasked by the gods to be able to tell anyone's story from their point of view so long as it has already happened. She tells the story not only from the heroes' points of view, but the villains and a third party as well. I've posted the first three chapters of eight I've written on Sabercat. Check out my "About You" section for the link.

Risks and challenges

The biggest challenge I foresee is, making a lot of money from this game. The tabletop gaming market is crowded and on a gradual decline. A few years back I actually e-mailed Gary Gygax, one of the creators of Dungeons & Dragons. He offered some great advice, but also opened my eyes to the main challenge with any business; making money. Luckily, I care not about getting richer. Sure it would be amazing to strike it rich from one of my ideas, but the main goal in mind for me is to just get a finished product out there. I really do feel this could be the next evolution in RPG's, and there are plans in my head on how to take it further, including ideas about a virtual world editor to create and play out RPG campaigns you can design in virtual reality. It all starts with you.